Friday, June 23, 2017

Health
Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne yesterday warned that the government was
prepared to take drastic action against the continuous strike launched
by the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA).

Addressing the media at the Government Information Department, following
Wednesday’s (21) incident, where undergraduates walked into the Health
Ministry premises, Dr Senaratne flayed the GMOA for having resorted to a
strike in protest against police action.

It was wrong for doctors to strike at a time the country was faced with a
serious dengue epidemic situation, Minister Senaratne said. They were
not fit to be called doctors, he added.

Commenting on Wednesday’s incident, Dr Senaratne said it had taken place
on his public day. Planning for dengue control strategies were also
being discussed at that time. Chairman of the Sri Lanka Medical Council
(SLMC) Prof. Carlo Fonseka had been scheduled to hand over documents on
the proposed recommendations for minimal standards for medical education
later that evening. But, all that had been disrupted by the incident at
the Ministry, he said.

Dr. Senaratrne accused the Front Line Socialist Party and the Inter
University Student Federation of being involved in the incident while
the GMOA, too, had been prepared to resort to a strike in support of the
protesters. "The irony is that those who attacked us were forced to
seek the services of one of our hospitals subsequently when the police
took action against their unruly behaviour," he said.

The Minister warned that the police would take necessary action against
those responsible for the destruction of state property. The damage to
vehicles alone amounted to over several million rupees. Estimates were
still being prepared, he said.

Ministry Secretary Janaka Sugathadasa said steps had been taken to
evacuate the employees of the Ministry when the incident occurred for
their safety. Certain employees had been manhandled by the protesters
and Ministry property destroyed, he added.

Acting Director General Health Services Dr. Sunil de Alwis said the
incident was the most unpleasant one which he had faced during his 27
years of service at the Ministry.